New Green Neighbourhood Proposed for Edinburgh City Centre

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30 August 2023 | Updated 31 August 2023

The former Deutsche Bank House at 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, is set to be redeveloped into a contemporary development of sustainable residential apartments and flexible commercial space.

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The planning submission for the former Scottish base for State Street Bank follows a 14-month consultation programme, with the developers and Edinburgh-based 7N Architects working closely with the local community and wider city interests. Artisan Real Estate and REInvest Asset Management unveiled the plans this week, which include a new residential neighbourhood providing 256 sustainable homes, 25 per cent of which will be for affordable housing, and flexible commercial space with the potential for cafes, shops and shared workspaces.

2/3 of 525 Ferry Road Will be Green Spaces

More than two-thirds of the development area will be made up of high-quality green spaces - including a large central communal garden, biodiverse green roofs, and a wetland area that enhances local ecology whilst contributing to the wider sustainable urban drainage system. Wildlife habitats will also be created through hedgerows, woodland areas and a central coppice courtyard. 11 new trees are also to be planted.

Smart technology such as individual air source heat pumps for each home also means no fossil fuels will be used, underlining the developers’ commitment to sustainable low carbon development and delivering low energy costs for occupiers.

The development has a targeted start date of mid-2024, with the building due for completion towards the end of 2026.

Artisan Real Estate’s Regional Director for Scotland, David Westwater, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity to breathe new life into an underused building, whilst ensuring its long-term future by bringing a new sustainable community to an accessible city centre location. 

"Following the consultation feedback, we have worked hard to make this development not just the right fit for the site but also an integral part of the wider city centre area. We have reduced the heights of the building from nine to seven storeys and ensured the overall architectural design and materials respect local and historical contexts. We are also fully aware that we have the responsibility to ensure that our developments exceed all current environmental standards, setting new benchmarks for smart, sustainable living whilst providing a high quality of internal and external space. Our proposals have been guided by low-carbon design and encompass a mix of apartment sizes and layouts, led mainly by residential as well as much-needed affordable housing and other complementary commercial uses.”

Thomas Merkes, Head of Asset Management at REInvest Asset Management S.A. added: “Our joint venture partnership with Artisan represents a major step forward in providing an innovative and collaborative mixed-use development solution to unlock the potential for this significant city centre site, which is set to create a genuinely transformational development in an accessible city centre location. Our planning submission for this complex site demonstrates how we can make a positive contribution to the local area, bringing investment, life and excitement back to this important part of the Capital.”

Picture: a photograph of the proposed exterior of the proposed 525 Park View complex. Image Credit: Artisan Real Estate and REInvest Asset Management S.A

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 30 August 2023

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